Merl Campsite, Kakadu National Park, NT

Day 137 – 3rd July 2011

Merl Campsite, Kakadu National Park, NT

This morning we entered the world heritage listed Kakadu National Park where we first stopped at Aurora Kakadu Resort to buy our national park entry passes ($25pp). Next we drove to Mamukala in the South Alligator region to view the wetlands from an observation platform and to go for a short walk through the woodlands around the wetlands (3km loop – 45min). We travelled on to the East Alligator region to do the Bardedjilidji walk through layered sandstone outliers (2.5km loop – 45min). From here we went to Cahills Crossing where we saw a crocodile happily sunbaking on the opposite river bank and 30 min later 3 people walking at that very same spot, however the croc was no longer there but where had he gone? you can’t see him but he might see you – that’s why we keep a safe distance from any waterbody as all the signs ask you to do. Next we visited the upstream boat ramp from where the Mangarre walk through monsoon rainforest beside the East Alligator River started (1.5km loop – 30min). Late afternoon we visited Ubirr, famous for its Aboriginal Rock art sites with intricate paintings of fish, wallabies, turtles and balanda (white men). From the Ubirr lookout we enjoyed a beautiful sunset with views over the Nadab floodplains and the surrounding escarpments. We timed our Ubirr visit well as the ranger was given some free talks about the rock art and Aboriginal culture which was very interesting. We finished the day by attending another ranger talk about Gringa (saltwater crocodile) at the Merl Campsite where we were camping.

Watch out for crocodiles

Mamukala wetlands

Bird

Mamukala Wetlands Walk

Camp dog - cross between dog and dingo

Scenery along the drive into the East Alligator Region

Sandstone Rocks along Bardedjilidji Walk

Bardedjilidji Walk

East Alligator River

Sunbaking Crocodile

This Banyan tree and the boulder at its base mark an
Aboriginal Women's site along the Mangarre Walk

Lots of butterflies flying around

Ubirr - a home becomes an art gallery

Ubirr Art Gallery - an illustrated menu

Fish and turtle

Fish

Kangaroo

It also provides lessons in good behaviour -
this painting tells a story which warns against stealing

Tasmanian Tigers are now extinct in Kakadu. Their numbers
started to decline 4,000 years ago with the arrival of dingos,
so it is believed this painting is over thousands of years old